Published : Oct 24,
2012 Last modified : Oct 24, 2012 10:34
AM
Emissions of greenhouse gases in the European
Union (EU) fell on average by 2.5 % from
2010 to 2011, although several countries
increased emissions. Almost all European
countries are individually on track towards
their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol
compared to last year, according to two
reports published today by the European
Environment Agency (EEA).
The report ‘Approximated EU greenhouse gas
inventory: early estimates for 2011’ gives
early estimates of greenhouse gas emissions
in the previous year and provides a key
input to the report on ‘Greenhouse gas emission
trends and projections in Europe 2012’,
which assesses progress against the EU’s
commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
“The European Union
as a whole will over-deliver on its Kyoto
target”, Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive
Director said. “In two months’ time we will
be at the end of the first commitment period
under the Kyoto Protocol. Considerable progress
has been made since 1997 but all Member
States need to deliver on their plans. For
those EU Member States who have not achieved
their target through domestic emission reductions,
the Kyoto Protocol’s flexible mechanisms
remain available until 2015.”
Emissions reductions
in 2011
According to EEA’s estimates, the largest
relative emissions decreases from 2010 to
2011 were registered in countries with small
to medium shares of total EU greenhouse
gas emissions: 13 % in Cyprus, followed
by 8 % in Belgium, Finland and Denmark.
The United Kingdom made the biggest emission
cuts in absolute terms, with a reduction
of 36 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (Mt
CO2 eq.) in 2011, or 6 %. This was followed
by France (24 Mt CO2 eq., 5 %) and Germany
(17 Mt CO2 eq., 2 %).
Nine EU Member States
increased emissions between 2010 and 2011.
Bulgaria increased emissions by 11 %, while
Lithuania increased by 3 % and Romanian
emissions rose by 2 %. However, these countries
have made some of the deepest cuts in emissions
overall since 11000.
Although economic factors
played a part in certain countries, it is
notable that the EU economy overall grew
by 1.5% while emissions fell by 2.5%. Most
of the countries registering the deepest
cuts in emissions had positive growth in
2011.
A warm winter in most
countries was a key factor in cutting emissions
in 2011, as the demand for fossil fuels
for heating was lower than in previous years.
The residential and commercial sector –
largely outside the scope of the EU emissions
trading system (EU ETS) – contributed most
to lower emissions in the European Union.
These EEA figures will
be further consolidated by mid-2013 in the
European Union’s greenhouse gas inventory.
The inventory will allow for a detailed
analysis of emission trends in EU Member
States.
European countries closing
in on Kyoto targets
Emissions outside the EU ETS are important,
because changes in these non-trading sectors
affect whether countries will meet their
targets. Overall emissions from the EU economic
sectors not covered by the EU ETS were reduced
by approximately 3.0 %, whereas emissions
under the EU ETS were cut by 1.8% in 2011.
In the 15 Member States with a common commitment
under the Kyoto Protocol (EU-15), greenhouse
gas emissions from the non-trading sectors
decreased rapidly by 3.8% between 2010 and
2011. This emission reduction, in combination
with foreseen contributions from carbon
sinks and the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms,
confirms that the EU-15 is on track towards
over-delivering on its 8 % reduction Kyoto
target. However, for this target to be met
all countries will also need to meet individual
goals.
With emission caps already
set for the economic sectors under the EU
ETS, the emission reductions of economic
sectors outside the EU ETS in 2012 together
with the contributions by carbon sinks will
ultimately determine how many Kyoto credits
Member States will need to acquire to reach
their individual targets by early 2015 at
the latest. One of the EEA reports shows
that some Member States either still need
to develop adequate plans on such acquisitions
(Italy) or deliver on existing plans (in
particular Austria, Belgium, Portugal and
Spain).
Progress towards 2020
targets
The EU has adopted legislation to reduce
greenhouse gases by 20 % between 11000 and
2020. The latest figures show emissions
in the EU have fallen by 16.5 % and the
Union is well on track to meeting this objective.
If international aviation is excluded, as
is the case with Kyoto Protocol commitments,
emissions in the EU have fallen by 17.5%
since 11000.
Projections from Member
States suggest that EU emissions will continue
to fall to 19 % below 11000 levels in 2020,
with current policies and measures in place.
Less than half of the EU Member States project
that their emission levels will fall below
their individual 2020 target with only current
domestic measures. Although flexibility
options allowed under the Effort Sharing
Decision could allow Member States to stay
on their target paths, most Member States
need to step up their efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating
the implementation of those additional policies
and measures they have already planned.
